Safety device for mines



March 13, 1934. J. w. RANKIN SAFETY DEVICE FOR MINES Filed Jan. 3, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l Skim/M1 March 13, 1934- J. w. RANKIN SAFETY DEVICE FOR MINES 2 Sheets-sheaf 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1933 1 IIIILl llll JM/Ianl Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY DEVICE FOR MINES John W. Rankin, Elizabeth, Pa.

Application January 3, 1933, Serial No. 850,928

Claims. (Cl- 98-50) This invention relates to safety devices for mines and more particularly to an emergency ventilating means for mines.

An object of this invention is to provide an 5 emergency ventilating means for mines which is operable following an explosion within one of the tunnels or levels so that fresh air will be forced into the area of the mine which is blocked off by the material loosened by the explosion.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ventilating means which is so constructed that it will automatically operate to force fresh air into the blocked area immediately following the explosion.

A further object of this invention is to provide an emergency ventilating means which is so constructed that it will be automatically set into operation by the force of the explosion but in the event the force is not suflicient to set the device in operation, it may be manually operated so as to force fresh air into that portion of the mine where the explosion occurred.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described and' in part be understood from. the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation partly broken away and in section and partly diagrammatic of a device constructed according to the preferred embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section partly in detail of the automatic switch closing means showing the closing means in inomrative position.

Figure 3 is a similar view but showing the closing means in operative or switch closing position.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the views, the letter T designates generally a mine tunnel or level of the usual construction. The tunnel T is ventilated in the 4 usual manner by a conventional ventilating means (not shown) but in order to provide an emergency ventilating means which will be set in motion immediately following an explosion in the tunnel T, I have provided an emergency means including a conduit 10 which opens at one end into the tunnel T and which has the other end extending outwardly of the ground and in the present instance is shown in vertical position but I, of course, do not wish to-be limited to the particular mounting of the ventilating pipe or conduit 10, as this pipe may be extended in any desired direction.

A blower 11, which is connected to a lateral conduit 12 which is in turn connected to the ventilating conduit 10, is mounted exteriorly of 50 the mine tunnel T on a base 13. This blower 11 is of a conventional construction provided to furnish fresh air in the ventilator 10 and is operated by means of a motor or power member 14.

The conduit 10 extends upwardly and beyond the conduit or pipe 12 which is connected to the blower 11, and this upper or opposite end of the pipe 10 has a closure or door 15 swingably mounted on a clamp 16 secured to the upper or opposite end of the ventilator 10. This door 15 is gravitatingly urged into closed position by means of a weight 1'1 and during the normal functioning of the conventional ventilating means for the tunnel T, this door or closure 15 will be in closed position. However, when an explosion occurs in the tunnel T, thereby forcing the air in the ventilator 10 outwardly, the closure 15 will be swung upwardly and outwardly into open position. Simultaneously with the swinging of the closure 15 into open position, a second closure 18, which is swingably carried by the clamp or mounting 16 oppositely from the closure 15 will be drawn downwardly into closed position by means of a link 19, which is pivotally secured as at 20 to the closure 18. The link 19 has an elongated slot 21 within which a pin 22 carried by the closure 15 is slidabiy mounted so that the upward and outward swinging of the closure 15 will pull the closure 18 downwardly past the center of gravity, and a weight 23 carried by the closure 18 will assist in the closing of this closure 18 while the closure 15 is swinging upwardly and outwardly into substantially horizontal position.

The motor 14 is connected to a source of supply S by means of conductors 24 and 25. A manually operated switch 26 of suitable construction is interposed in the conductors 24 and 25 and may be positioned at any desired point either closely adjacent the entrance or connection 27 of the pipe 10 with the tunnel T, or may be positioned at a remote point.

If desired, additional switches 26 may be interposed in the conductors 24 and 25, so that the motor M may be operated manually from any convenient point either within or exteriorly of the tunnel T. In order, however, to automatically set the motor 14 into operation, I have provided an automatically operated switch 28, which is mounted on a bracket 29 secured to the pipe 10 below the closure 15, and this switch 28 is interposed in conductors 30 and 31, which are connected to the conductors 24 and 25.

A plunger or switch operating member 32 is slidably mounted on brackets 33 and 34, the bracket 33 being uppermost and the bracket 34 being below the upper bracket 33 and above the switch bracket 29. A spring 35 is disposed about the plunger 32 and constantly urges this plunger 32 upwardly and away from the switch 28.

A head 36 is carried by the plunger 32 and is positioned in the path of the closure 15 so that when this closure 15 is swung upwardly and outwardly into a substantially horizontal open position, the closure 15 will contact with the head 36 and the weight of this closure 15 will overcome the tension of the spring 35 and the plunger 32 will then swing the switch 26 downwardly into closed position.

A check valve 37 is mounted in the conduit or connecting pipe 12 at a point intermediate the blower 11 and the ventilating pipe 10 and is mounted in a position so that the back pressure in the ventilator 10 caused by the explosion in the tunnel T will not affect the blower 10 but will cause the air pressure in the ventilator 10 to open the closure 15.

When the switch 28 has been closed, the motor 14 will be operated, which motor will in turn start the blower l1, and the pressure of air from the blower 11 in the conduit 12 will automatically swing the check valve 37 into open position. The air forced into the ventilator 10 by the blower 11 will .pass downwardly in this ventilator 10 being prevented from going upwardly by reason of the fact that the closure 18 will be drawn into closed position simultaneous with the opening of the closure 15. Where the air pressure caused by the explosion in the tunnel T is not sufficient in the ventilator 10 to swing the closure 15 into open position so as to actuate the switch closing member 32, the remotely disposed switch 26 may be manually closed, thereby starting the blower 11 and the motor 14.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic safety means for mines comprising a conduit connected at one end to a tunnel or chamber within the mine and having the other end extending exteriorly of the mine, a normally inoperative blower connected to the conduit and adapted to force air into the tunnel, an operating member for the blower, and pressure controlled means operatively connected to the operating member to automatically start the operating member upon increase of the normal air pressure in the conduit.

2. An automatic safety means for mines comprising a conduit and connected at one end to a tunnel or chamber within the interior of the mine and having the other end disposed remote from the mine, a blower connected to the conduit exteriorly of the chamber or tunnel, operating means for the blower, and pressure controlled means connected-to the conduit at a point remote from the mine to automatically set the operating means in motion upon sudden increase in, the normal pressure of air within the conduit.

3. An automatic safety means for mines comprising a conduit having an end discharging into a tunnel or chamber within the mine, the op posite end of the conduit extending to a point remote from the tunnel or chamber, a clcsure swingably carried by the opposite end of the conduit, means for gravitatingly holding the closure in closed position under normal pressure in the conduit, a blower connected to the conduit intermediate the ends thereof, an operating member for the blower, and means connected to the operating member and disposed in the path of the movement of the closure into open position whereby to start the operating member upon sudden increase of air pressure in the conduit.

4. An automatic safety means for mines com prising a tunnel having an end discharging into a mine tunnel or chamber, the opposite end of the conduit extending to a point remote from the tunnel or chamber, a closure for said opposite end, means for swingably mounting the closure on the opposite end of the conduit, a second closure swingably mounted on said opposite end of the conduit, means connecting the second closure with the first closure whereby the second closure will be maintained in open position when the first closure is in closed position, said connecting means swinging said second closure into closed position upon opening of the first closure, a blower connected to the conduit, an electric operating member for theblower, conductors connecting the operating member with a source of current supply, a switch interposed in said conductors, and means disposed in the path of the first closure whereby to close the switch for operation of the blower operating member upon swinging of the first closure into open horizontal position.

5. An automatic safety means for mines comprising a conduit having one end thereof open and discharging into a mine tunnel or chamber, the opposite end of the conduit being positioned remote from the tunnel or chamber and open to the atmosphere, a closure for said opposite end, means for swingably mounting the closure on the opposite end, a second closure, means connecting the second closure with the first closure whereby to hold the second closure in open position when the first closure is in closed position, a blower, means connecting the blower with the conduit, an electric operating member for the blower, conductors connecting the operating member with a source of current supply, a switch interposed in said conductors, a slidable switch operating member, and means for mounting the switch operating member in the path of the first closure to automatically close said switch for operation of said operating member upon swinging of the first closure into substantially horizontal open position, said second closure upon movement into closed position preventing discharge of the air from the blower through said opposite end of the conduit.

6. An automatic safety means for mines comprising a conduit having one end thereof discharging into a mine tunnel or chamber, the opposite end of the conduit being positioned remotely from the tunnel or chamber, a closure, clamping means for swingably mounting the closure on said opposite end of the conduit,

a second closure carried by said clamping means and normally disposed in open position, means connecting the second closure with the first closure whereby to hold said second closure in open position when said first closure is in closed position and to swing said second closure into closed position when said first closure is moved into horizontal open position, a blower, means connecting the blower with the conduit, a check valve in said connecting means and opening toward said conduit whereby to prevent back pressure in said connecting means, an electric motor operatively engaged with said blower, conductors connecting the motor with a source of current supply, a switch interposed in said conductors, a slidable switch operating member, means for mounting said switch operating member in the path of said first closure and resilient means engaging said switch operating member to constantly urge said operating member into inoperative position.

7. An automatic safety means for mines comprising a ventilating pipe discharging at one end into a tunnel or mine chamber and having the other end thereof positioned remotely from the tunnel or chamber, a pair of closures for said other end, means connecting the closures together whereby to hold one closure in open position when the other closure is in closed position and to swing said one closure into closed position when the other closure is moved into substantially horizontal open position, a blower, means connecting the blower with the pipe, an electric motor connected to said blower, conductors connecting the motor with a source of current supply, a switch interposed in said conductors, switch operating means, means for mounting said switch operating means in, the

path of said other closure, another series of conductors connected to the motor and to the source of current supply, and a manually operated switch interposed in said other series of conductors and positioned remotely from the motor.

8. An automatic safety means comprising a blower, an operating member for the blower, means connecting the blower with a mine tunnel, and means actuated by increase of air pressure in the tunnel and operatively connected to the blower operating means to start said operating means, said blower when in operation forcing air into the mine tunnel.

9. A safety means for an underground chamber comprising a conduit connected to the chamber, a normally closed valve for said conduit and movable into open position upon increase of pressure in said conduit above normal to relieve the abnormal pressure in said conduit, means for forcing air into said conduit, and means operable by movement of said valve into open position for setting said air forcing means in operation.

10. A safety means for an underground cham- 100 ber comprising a conduit connected to the chamber, a normally closed valve for said conduit and movable into open position upon increase of pressure in said conduit above normal to relieve the abnormal pressure in said conduit, means for forcing air into said conduit, means operable by movement of said valve into open position for setting said air forcing means in operation, and a second, means operable by movement of said valve into open position to close said conduit.

JOHN W. RANKIN. 

